JP3181645U - Key top assembly structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a key top assembly structure in which a stabilizer can be easily incorporated on the back side of a key top.
A key top assembly structure is made of a wire material, a part of which is a straight beam portion, a pair of leg portions bent from both ends of the beam portion, and the tip ends of the leg portions are bent to be in a straight line. And a stabilizer 4 having a beam portion, a leg portion, and a shaft portion in a shape parallel to one plane. Further, in order to support the rotating shaft of the stabilizer 4 on the bottom surface of the storage recess 1d of the key top 2, a pair of bearing portions 1k1, 1k2 formed apart from each other, and a natural state in which the shaft portions are fitted to the bearing portions Then, a convex portion 1j formed in a convex shape from the bottom surface contacting the beam portion is provided so that the beam portion is lifted from the bottom surface. In addition, a beam bearing unit that fits the shaft portion of the stabilizer on the back surface, places the beam portion on the convex portion, and elastically deforms when the pressure portion is placed in the concave portion, and then sandwiches the beam portion to receive the bearing. Having a key top.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a key top of an input device used in an electronic device to a switch, and particularly to a key top attachment structure using a stabilizer.

  In various input devices, when an input signal is given to an electronic device by a switch and a device provided with a button, a key top that is a button larger than the switch is used as the switch. According to this, when performing an input operation, the input operation of the operator can be reliably transmitted to these input devices. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-92261, the cup portion is pressed by using a large key top and an arm bar as a stabilizer as compared with the cup portion which is a switch structure.

JP-A-10-92261

  The key top mounting structure disclosed in JP-A-10-92261 discloses a keyboard used in a computer, and the key top covers the switch. In general, many switches that are pressed through a key top are relatively small, and the switch is provided inside the casing. A key top is placed over the switch. Further, a stabilizer is used between the key top and the switch so as to move in parallel so that the key top does not tilt when the switch operation is performed. However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-92261 shows a clamp part and a retaining part on the back side of the key top, which is a structure for attaching an arm bar (stabilizer) to the key top. Practical technical means for doing so are not shown. That is, as shown in JP-A-10-92261, in order to fix the arm bar to the clamp part and the retaining part, it can be expected that the clamp part and the retaining part are pressed against the arm bar, but the arm bar is placed on the key top mounting plate. It is practically impossible to put the clamp part and the retaining part on the sleeping state with only the disclosed contents.

  In order to assemble the stabilizer on the key top in this way, the stabilizer must be assembled on the back side of the key top which cannot be visually observed, and it is difficult and comes off with an easy structure. Therefore, for this assembly, a structure that is reliable and easy to assemble must be used.

  The key top assembly structure of the present invention is made of a wire material, a part of the wire material is a straight beam portion, a pair of leg portions bent from both ends of the beam portion, and a pair of the leg portions. Stabilizer members each consisting of a pair of shaft portions that are bent and aligned in a straight line, and in which the beam portion, the pair of leg portions, and the pair of shaft portions are in a single plane. A housing having a key top storage recess for storing the key top, a pair of bearing portions formed to be spaced apart from each other for bearing the rotating shaft of the stabilizer on the bottom surface of the recess, and the pair A projecting portion formed in a convex shape from the bottom surface in contact with the beam portion so that the beam portion is lifted from the bottom surface in a natural state in which the shaft portion is fitted to the pair of bearing portions. Assembling and mounting in the recess A key top formed on the back surface of the key top to rotatably support the beam portion, the shaft portion of the stabilizer being fitted to the bearing, and the beam portion being mounted on the convex portion. And a key top having a beam bearing portion that receives and supports the beam portion after elastic deformation when the key top is pressed and placed in the recess.

  According to the present invention, a protrusion for assembly is formed inside the recess for storing the key top. When the key top is attached to the switch, the stabilizer is pressed against the protrusion, and the stabilizer holding part provided on the key top is further pressed. Since the stabilizer is engaged, it is possible to provide a key top assembly structure that is easy to assemble and has a simple structure.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the hand controller which is an input device of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which expanded and disassembled a part of FIG. It is the key top back surface external appearance perspective view which looked at the key top used in FIG. 1 from the back surface. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view illustrating the state of the housing before the key top is assembled to the hand controller of the present invention of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4A is an initial state in which the stabilizer is assembled to the housing 1a. 4 (b) is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of assembling the stabilizer to the housing 1a, and FIG. 4 (c) is a perspective view showing a state in which the stabilizer has been assembled to the housing 1a. It is. FIG. 5A is a view for explaining the engagement between the stabilizer and the key top when the key top is housed and assembled in the housing 1a. FIG. 5A shows a state immediately before the engagement, and the beam portion of the stabilizer is bent. FIG. 5B shows the state of the beam portion of the stabilizer when the engagement between the stabilizer and the key top is completed. It is sectional drawing of the hand controller before the key top which is an input device of this invention is pushed, and shows sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the segment AA in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB shown in FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing of the hand controller in the state by which the key top which is an input device of this invention was pushed, and shows sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the segment AA in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC shown in FIG. 8.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment which is a keytop assembly structure is described based on drawing.

  In each drawing used for the following description, the scale is different for each component in order to make each component recognizable on the drawing. It is not limited only to the quantity of the component described in the figure, the shape of the component, the ratio of the size of the component, and the relative positional relationship of each component.

  The embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a hand controller (so-called remote controller) that outputs a signal and controls an IC recorder as an electronic device as an example.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the hand controller 1 which is a main body of the device. In order to control the audio file in the IC recorder, the switch 8 operated by the key tops 2, 5, 6 is provided at three locations inside. To output the outputs from these switches 8 and to connect to a jack 1c for electrical connection with an IC recorder connected thereto and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and to operate an audio file in the PC USB connector 1b.

  Note that the key top 2 is a push button for stopping and starting the reproduction of the audio file, the key top 5 is a push button for rewinding (returning) the sound, and the key top 6 is for fast-forwarding (forward) of the sound. It is a push button for.

  In the following description of the present invention, since the three key tops and the three switches 8 have the same structure, the key top 2 and the switch 8 located in the center of the hand controller 1 will be described. .

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hand controller 1 and will mainly be described in relation to the key top 2.

  The hand controller 1 has a housing 1a (main body case) that is an external member, and the housing 1a has a concave portion with a trapezoidal bottom (bottom) on the external side of the plan view (arrow X in FIG. 1). It has a key top storage recess 1d. A key top 2, a button spring 3, and a stabilizer 4 (stabilizer member) are disposed in the key top housing recess 1d.

  The stabilizer 4 is made of a wire material, and a part of the wire material is a linear beam portion 4a having a dimension length slightly smaller than the lateral width of the key top, and a pair of leg portions 4b bent from both ends of the beam portion, respectively. (Arm portion) (see FIG. 4b) and a pair of shaft portions 4c (see FIG. 4c) formed so that the tips of the pair of leg portions are bent and aligned, and the beam portion 4a The pair of leg portions 4b and the pair of shaft portions 4c are configured to fit within one plane. The stabilizer 4 is sized to fit within the keytop storage recess 1d.

  The bottom 1d1 of the key top storage recess 1d has a square opening 1e. In the vicinity of the opening 1e, a pair of guide shafts 1f for moving and guiding the key top 2 across the opening 1e is provided, and the key top 2 is supported by the guide shaft 1f so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the opening 1e. .

  The center of the pair of guide shafts 1 f has a hole that fits with the key top shaft, and supports the key top 2 so as to be movable in the operation direction of the switch 8.

  A button spring 3 that is a coil spring is fitted to the outer periphery of each of the pair of guide shafts 1f. One end surface of the button spring 3 is in contact with the bottom 1d1 of the key top storage recess 1d, and the other end is in contact with the back surface of the key top 2. In contact, the key top 2 is urged toward the external side.

  A pair of bearing portions 1k1 and 1k2 having elongated holes 1k1 'and 1k2' for receiving a stabilizer shaft portion 4c, which will be described later, sandwich the opening 1e in the vicinity of the pair of guide shafts 1f at the bottom portion 1d1 of the key top storage recess 1d It protrudes at. The pair of long holes 1k1 ′ and 1k2 ′ are long holes extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the bottom, the shaft portion of the stabilizer can be smoothly rotated, and the width of the long holes 1k1 ′ and 1k2 ′ is the axis of the stabilizer. The width is such that the portion 4c can smoothly slide in the longitudinal direction of the long hole.

  In the vicinity of one bearing portion of the bottom portion 1d1, there is provided a rocking restriction hook 1i that engages with the leg portion 4b of the stabilizer and restricts the stabilizer 4 so as to be rockable by a predetermined angle. The swing restricting hooks 1i serving as rotation restricting portions that restrict the rotation of the stabilizer within a predetermined angle are spaced apart from each other by a size slightly larger than the wire diameter of the stabilizer 4, and are a flexible pair extending vertically from the bottom to the external side. And a pair of flanges provided at the respective tips of the beam portions and facing each other.

  A first engagement member having a flexible beam portion extending vertically from the bottom portion 1d1 to the exterior side and a flange portion provided at the tip thereof at a position sandwiched between the pair of bearing portions 1k near one side of the opening 1e. A stop hook 1g is provided. Further, in the vicinity of each of the pair of guide shafts 1f, a pair of second members having a flexible beam portion extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion 1d1 to the appearance side so as to sandwich the opening 1e and a flange portion provided at the tip thereof. A stop hook 1h is arranged.

  Further, the bottom portion 1d1 is positioned between the pair of second locking hooks 1h, and faces the first locking hook 1g so as to sandwich the opening 1e, from the vicinity of one side of the opening 1e to the outside in the vertical direction. An assembly projection (projection) 1j, which is a projection extending vertically, is provided.

  An electric board 7 (switch board) is attached to the inside of the housing 1a in parallel with the arrangement of the key tops.

  A USB connector 1b, a jack 1c, and a switch 8 are mounted on the electric board.

  The switch 8 is called a tact switch and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The switch 8 has a shape in which the switch main body 8a and the movable movable button portion 8b which is a switch movable portion are externally formed. The movable button portion 8b is movable relative to the main body of the switch 8 in a direction perpendicular to the electric board 7, and a pair of elongated holes 8c are formed on the pressed surface of the movable button portion 8b.

  The key top 2 has a trapezoidal pressed surface pressed by an operator and a trapezoidal concave surface on the back surface thereof, and is elongated to fit on a guide shaft 1f extending from the concave surface. In order to move in the pressing direction together with the pair of column-shaped button shafts 2a and the movable button portion 8b of the switch 8, the pair of elongated holes 8c of the movable button portion 8b that protrudes from the back surface and is formed into a pair of plates. And a pair of button fitting shafts 2b for pressing the movable button portion 8b of the switch 8, and in the length direction of the button fitting shaft 2b. The press part 2g having a short length and the key top 2 are locked so as not to come off when the key top 2 is stored in the key top storage recess 1d. Along the straight line in the longitudinal direction of the plane (base of trapezoid, short side) A pair of holding hooks 2c disposed in position. Each of the holding hooks 2c has a flexible beam portion extending from the back surface of the key top 2 and a collar portion at the tip thereof.

  Further, since the back surface of the key top 2 is engaged with the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4, the flexible beam portion 2e1 protruding and extending from the back surface of the key top 2 and the flange portion 2e2 provided at the tip thereof are mutually connected. A pair of stabilizer hooks 2e are arranged at a position along the long straight line (the bottom side of the trapezoid) on the inner side of the trapezoidal recess on the back surface and along the ridgeline, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the key top appearance plane. Is provided. Each of the beam portions 2e1 of the stabilizer hook 2e has a hook contact surface 2e3 that contacts the beam portion 4a when engaged with the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4.

  A pair of hook contact surfaces 2e3 and a beam portion 4a of the stabilizer are sandwiched between the key tops. The key tops are parallel to the hook contact surfaces 2e3 and are spaced apart from each other so as to face each other. A pair of opposed abutment surfaces 2d are disposed along the straight line and at positions along the ridgeline so as to be spaced apart from each other.

  A distance g (see FIG. 7) between the hook contact surface 2e3 and the opposing contact surface 2d, which sandwiches the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4, is a size that allows the beam portion 4a to rotate smoothly around its axis. Yes.

  Further, a recess 2 f is provided in a direction perpendicular to the key top displacement direction on the peripheral wall surface of the short side facing the long side (bottom side) of the trapezoidal recess in the back surface of the key top 2. The recess 2f has a peripheral wall surface 2f1 along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the key top 2 is displaced.

  Next, assembly of the hand controller will be described.

  First, the stabilizer 4 is assembled in the housing 1a. The pair of shaft portions 4c of the stabilizer 4 is fitted into the pair of bearing portions 1k1 and 1k2. At that time, the distance between the tips of the pair of shaft portions 4c (L1: see FIG. 4C) is based on the distance between the pair of bearing portions 1k1 and 1k2 (L2: see FIG. 4C). Since it has a small size, after one of the shaft portions 4c is fitted to one bearing portion 1k1 close to the swing restricting hook 1i, the axis line connecting the pair of shaft portions 4c is the axis line connecting the pair of bearing portions 1k1, 1k2. On the other hand, it is tilted while keeping the direction parallel to the bottom plane, and the stabilizer 4 is slid in the axial direction of the shaft portion, and the other end of the shaft portion 4c is fitted to the bearing portion 1k2 (see FIG. 4A). Further, instead of this assembling method, the beam portion of the stabilizer 4 may be bent and the shaft portion may be assembled to the bearing portion. In this state, the stabilizer 4 is raised from the bottom, that is, a state in which the angle between the tip of the swing regulating hook 1i and the trapezoidal external short side ridge line of the key top storage recess 1d is swung unnecessarily.

Thereafter, in order to prevent the stabilizer from swinging into an unnecessary swing range and swing within a predetermined angle, the stabilizer arm portion 4b is engaged with a swing restriction hook 1i that restricts swing. Therefore, the stabilizer is swung so as to be in contact with the end of the flange portion of the stabilizer 4 swing restriction hook 1i (see FIG. 4B). Next, the arm portion of the stabilizer is pushed between the pair of hooks of the swing restriction hook 1i, and the pair of beam portions of the swing restriction hook 1i are bent. Thus, the stabilizer 4 is finally pushed between the beam portions of the pair of swing restricting hooks 1i. As a result, the stabilizer 4 can be pivoted and rotated between the beam portions of the pair of rocking restriction hooks 1i, and the keytop 4 can be easily housed in the keytop housing recess 1d. (See Fig. 4 (c))
Next, the two button springs 3 are fitted into the guide shafts 1f one by one. Thereafter, the key top 2 is housed in the key top housing recess 1d from the exterior side. At this time, the button shaft 2 a of the key top 2 is fitted to the guide shaft 1 f through the center of the button spring 3. Then, the beam portion of the first locking hook 1g of the housing 1a bends, and the flange portion at the tip of the beam portion engages with the peripheral wall surface 2f1 of the engagement recess 2f of the key top, so that the second locking of the housing 1a is performed. The beam portion of the hook 1h is bent, and the hook portion at the tip of the beam portion is engaged with the hook portion of the holding hook 2c of the key top. By these engagements, the key top is housed in the key top housing recess 1d and does not come off the key top housing recess 1d against the urging force of the button spring 3. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the flange portion 2e2 at the tip of the stabilizer hook 2e of the key top 2 presses both ends of the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer in the direction of arrow B in the figure. 4a center and the assembly projection 1j of the housing 1a abut, both ends of the beam are bent in the direction of arrow C in the figure, and finally the beam 2e1 of the stabilizer hook 2e is bent by the reaction force pushing the stabilizer 4. The both ends of the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer get over the flange portion 2e2, the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 and the beam portion 2e1 of the stabilizer hook 2e return to a straight line (see FIG. 5B), and the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 is the stabilizer. It contacts the contact surface 2e3 of the hook 2e. At the same time, the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 is positioned between the contact surface 2e3 of the stabilizer hook 2e and the contact surface 2d provided on the key top.

  The key tops 5 and 6 are similarly assembled to the housing 1a, and then the electric board 7 on which the switch 8, the USB connector 1b, and the jack 1c are mounted is assembled into the housing 1a from the lower surface of the housing. The housing 1a is provided with an opening for exposing the connection port of the USB connector 1b and the jack 1c to the outside. When the electric board 7 is assembled in the housing 1a, the connection port of the USB connector 1b and the jack 1c are connected. After each connection port is inserted into the opening for them in the housing 1a, the button fitting shaft 2b of the key top 2 is fitted into the pair of long holes 8c of the movable button portion 8b of the switch 8, and the electric board is incorporated. It is. The other key tops 6 and 7 are assembled in the same manner. Thereafter, the electric substrate 7 is fixed in the housing 1a by means such as screws.

  Finally, the lower cover 9 is assembled using screws or the like so as to cover the lower surface of the housing 1a, and the assembly of the hand controller 1 is completed.

  Next, the operation and action related to the operation of the key top resulting from the structure of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hand controller as a product including the assembly of the key tops, which has been completely assembled, taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and the key tops are not pressed. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. In this state, the button spring 3 urges the key top 2 upward in the figure, but the holding hook 2c of the key top 2 engages with the second locking hook 1h of the housing 1a, and the key top 2 Since the engagement recess 2f is engaged with the first locking hook 1g of the housing 1a (see FIG. 7), the key top 2 does not come off from the housing 1a and come off. At this time, the button fitting shaft 2b of the key top 2 is fitted in the elongated hole 8c of the movable button portion 8b of the switch 8, but the movable button portion 8b is slightly displaced with respect to the switch 8 body. There is no such thing as moving. Further, since the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 is engaged and held by the hook contact surface 2e3 and the opposite contact surface 2d of the key top 2, the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 is in a state of being lifted from the bottom portion. The leg portion 4b of the stabilizer 4 is inclined and lifted with respect to the bottom surface 1d1. Naturally, the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 4 is also separated from the assembly protrusion 1j of the housing 1a. At this time, the pressing portion 2g of the key top 2 slightly presses the movable button portion 8b of the switch 8, but the state of the switch 8 is not changed. That is, the output of the switch 8 in the state where the key top is not assembled is the same as the output of the switch 8 in the natural state where the key top is assembled.

  The pressed operation and action of the key top 2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described from the natural state of FIGS. 6 and 7, that is, the non-pressed state with respect to the key top 2.

  The state shown in FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional state at the same position as in FIG. 6 of the hand controller in which the key top 2 is pressed by the operator from the state shown in FIG. 9 is also a cross-sectional view at the same position as FIG.

  When the key top 2 is pressed against the urging force of the button spring 3, the button spring 3 is compressed, and the hook of the holding hook 2c of the key top 2 and the hook of the second locking hook 1h of the housing 1a. In other words, the hook part of the holding hook 2c of the key top 2 is separated from the hook part of the second locking hook 1h of the housing 1a (see FIG. 8). Further, the contact between the inner peripheral wall surface 2f1 of the engagement recess 2f of the key top 2 and the flange portion of the first locking hook 1g of the housing 1a is temporarily released, in other words, the engagement of the key top 2. The inner peripheral wall surface of the recess 2f is separated from the flange portion of the first locking hook 1g of the housing 1a (see FIG. 9). When the displacement of the key top 2 by the pressing operation continues and the pressing portion 2g of the key top 2 further presses the movable button portion 8b, the output of the switch 8 is changed during the displacement of the key top 2. While maintaining this output state change, the key top 2 reaches the stroke end. At this end, the outer peripheral lower end surface 2h of the key top 2 and the bottom surface 1d1 of the key top storage recess 1d abut. At this time, the beam portion 4a of the stabilizer 2 is located at a position slightly floating away from the assembly projection 1j of the housing 1a.

  Further, even when the key top assembly structure of the present invention is used, the casing 1a is also protected against a biased pressing force that is applied to the ridgeline of the key top and the vicinity thereof at a distance from the guide shaft 1f. On the other hand, the key top can slide smoothly.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a key top assembly structure in which the stabilizer 4 covered with the key top 2 can be easily engaged with the key top with a simple configuration.

  If the present invention is a switch device having a key top, for example, it can be used for devices in a wide range of fields such as a keyboard of a personal computer, a switch device of an electric device, a home appliance, an office product, an entertainment product, a medical device, etc. Can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body 1a ... Housing (main body case)
1b: USB connector 1c: Jack 1d: Key top storage recess 1d1: Bottom (bottom)
1e ... opening 1f ... guide shaft 1g ... first locking hook 1h ... second locking hook 1i ... swing regulating hook 1j ... assembling protrusion (protrusion) )
1k1, 1k2 ... Bearings 1k1 ', 1k2' ... Long hole 2 ... Key top (push button)
2a ... Button shaft 2b ... Button fitting shaft 2c ... Holding hook 2d ... Opposing contact surface 2e ... Stabilizer hook 2e1 ... Stabilizer hook beam (beam)
2e2 ... collar 2e3 ... hook contact surface 2f ... engagement recess 2g ... pressing part 2h ... lower end face 3 ... button spring 4 ... stabilizer 4a ··· stabilizer beam (Beam)
4b ... Stabilizer swinging arm (arm, leg)
4c ... Stabilizer shaft (shaft)
5 ... Key top 6 ... Key top 7 ... Switch board (electric board)
8 ... Switch 8a ... Switch body 8b ... Movable button part 8c ... Long hole 9 ... Lower cover

Claims (3)

It is made of a wire material, a part of the wire material is a straight beam portion, a pair of leg portions bent from both ends of the beam portion, and each of the tip ends of the pair of leg portions are bent and aligned. A pair of shaft portions formed so as to be lined up, the beam portion, the pair of leg portions, and a stabilizer member having a shape in which the pair of shaft portions fits in one plane;
A casing as an exterior member having a keytop storage recess in which the keytop is stored;
A pair of bearing portions formed to be spaced apart from each other in order to support the rotation shaft of the stabilizer on the bottom surface of the recess;
In the natural state in which the pair of shaft portions are fitted to the pair of bearing portions, the convex portion formed in a convex shape from the bottom surface is in contact with the beam portion so that the beam portion is lifted from the bottom surface. And
A key top that is assembled and placed in the recess, and is formed on the back surface of the key top to rotatably support the beam portion. The shaft portion of the stabilizer is fitted to the bearing, and the beam A key top having a beam bearing portion for bearing by sandwiching the beam portion after elastic deformation when the key top is placed on the convex portion and the key top is pressed and placed in the concave portion;
A key top assembly structure characterized by comprising: The said recessed part has the rotation control part which prevents that the said stabilizer falls off from the said bearing, and the said stabilizer carries out the rotation control within a predetermined angle around the said bearing, The said Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Key top assembly structure. 2. The key top assembly structure according to claim 1, wherein the device has a tact switch, and a shaft portion that is fitted to a switch movable portion of the tact switch is provided on the key top.